Monday, April 2, 2012

With a history of producing aero-engines and military vehicles,
the Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd also generated a line of Alvis
cars from 1919 to 1967. With distinct headlights, characteristic tires,
and an appealing body, Alvis cars are believed named after a
mythological figure from Norse culture. Over time, a variety of vehicles
were produced under the Alvis name, which included the Alvis Speed 20
Tourer 1932. Alvis Firefly 12, and the Alvis Firebird.
The History of Alvis Cars
Originally,
the cars that would become known as Alvis were a product of the TG John
and Co. Ltd., which was found in 1919. The company initially
concentrated on carburetor bodies, stationary engines, and the
production of motor scooters until the company's founder met Geoffrey de
Freville. It was Freville, who brought to light a design for a
4-cylinder engine that showcased aluminum pistons and pressure
lubrication. The idea was ahead of its time. Soon after, the first car
model was called the 10/30 and became an instant favorite with the
public. The company soon built a reputation for performance and quality.
Shortly
after, the company faced many complaints that the logo used for the
cars was too similar to the AVRO aviation company, which led to the
creation of the inverted red triangle with the word "Alvis" added. A
name change followed in 1921 and the company was now officially known as
the Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd. Production relocated to
Coventry and between 1922 and 1923, the Buckingham car was born. In
1923, the company received Captain GT Smith-Clarke (a former Daimler
employee), who catapulted the business into the forefront of car
manufacturing. The 25-year partnership would go on to create the most
successful cars in the company's history.
In 1927, the
six-cylinder 14.75 hp engine was introduced and would shape the future
of the lengthy line of high-end Alvis cars that flourished until the war
broke out. The cars displayed some of the leading enhancements in
technology. In 1933, the cars now showcased an independent front
suspension and the first all-synchromesh gearbox in the world. Servo
assisted brakes came next and the 1930s also saw more and more cars
produced with front wheel drive, in-board brakes, and an overhead
camshaft.
By the time World War II struck in 1939, car production
took a dive. The 12/70, Silver Crest, Speed 25, and 4.3 Litre models
resumed production into the beginning of 1940, but during the war, a
German Luftwaffe raid seriously damaged the car factory in Coventry. The
remaining years of the war saw a suspension in car production until the
later part of 1946. After the war, Alvis cars resumed production and
introduced the TA14, a four-cylinder model based upon the pre-war 12/70
model. The automobile was solid, reliable, and visually attractive.
In
1950, a new chassis was developed and a six-cylinder 3-liter engine was
revealed that would become the foundation of all Alvis models until car
production ended in 1967. In that time, a wide-range of bodies and
features surfaced under the Alvis name. The modernization of the Alvis
name and brand was seen once again during the 80s, as Alvis Limited
became part of Rover. The name later changed hands from British Leyland
to United Scientific Holdings to Alvis Vickers Ltd in the mid-2000s. In
2004, the use of the characteristic red triangle trademark ended with
BAE Systems.
Alvis Car Models
The production numbers of
Alvis car are rather low, where the highest figures hovered more than
3,000 units for one model. The first model, the Alvis 10/30 was produced
from 1920 to 1923. A little more than 600 of these cars came off of the
assembly line. At the same time, the Alvis 11/40 was marketed. During
the 1920s, Alvis generated sales from the Alvis 12/40, Alvis 12/50
(drophead coupe), Alvis 14.75, Alvis 12/75 FWD (offered front-wheel
drive; 2 seat sports, 4 seat sports, sports saloon), and the Alvis 16.95
Silver Eagle (2 seat sports, coup, drophead coupe, saloon).
The
1930s brought the Alvis Firefly 12 (1933-34), which came with a choice
of four or six lights in their saloon models. The Alvis Crested Eagle
(1933-40) offered a 4 light saloon, 6 light saloon, or limousine
selection. The Alvis Firebird was introduced in 1935, offering 4 light
saloon, 6 light saloon, drophead coup, and sports tourer selections.
In
the 1960s, only 48 of the Alvis TC 21/100 Grey Lady (sports saloon,
drophead coupe) was produced and only 37 of the Alvis TC 108/G hit the
market. Additional Alvis cars to follow included the Alvis TD 21, Alvis
TE 21, and the Alvis TF 21, which all offered 2-door saloons and
drophead coupe features.

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